The best new streaming movies this week: Hot Frosty and more

We’re back with a brand new list for the week — a hit commercial superhero movie is making it to streaming this week. We also have a few puzzlers on the list for this week and a Christmas-themed movie. It’s going to be fun — grab a cup of coffee!

The best new streaming movies this week

• Deadpool & Wolverine
• Emilia Pérez
• Hot Frosty
• Black Cab
• Poolman

Deadpool & Wolverine – November 12, Disney Plus

• Release date: July 25, 2024
• Genre: Action, Adventure, Comedy
• Rating: R
• Director: Shawn Levy
• Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Emma Corrin, Matthew Macfadyen, Dafne Keen, Jon Favreau, Morena Baccarin

The Time Variance Authority recruits Deadpool to save his universe from destruction. To accomplish this, he must find a living version of Wolverine in another universe, since the one in his world died at the end of Logan. The film heavily references its status as Disney’s first R-rated Marvel film, with Deadpool constantly breaking the fourth wall to joke about joining the MCU at a bit of a low point.

Hugh Jackman returns as Wolverine, finally donning the character’s iconic yellow-and-blue costume from the comics, leading to more meta-commentary. The plot involves the TVA, led by a hammy Matthew Macfadyen, though the film seems focused on its self-referential humor and the collision between Reynold’s irreverent Deadpool and Jackman’s serious Wolverine. The movie includes several carefully hidden cameos that poke fun at the superhero industry — which is refreshing in itself.

Emilia Pérez – November 13, Netflix

• Release date: August 21, 2024
• Genre: Crime, Musical
• Rating: R
• Director: Jacques Audiard
• Cast: Karla Sofía Gascón, Zoe Saldaña, Selena Gomez, Adriana Paz, Edgar Ramírez, Mark Ivanir, Eduardo Aladro

Rita, a successful but morally conflicted lawyer in Mexico, receives a mysterious call from cartel leader Juan “Manitas” Del Monte. Despite his tough exterior, Manitas reveals his desire to transition and hires Rita to arrange both gender-affirming surgery and a new identity. After successfully helping Manitas become Emilia Pérez, Rita moves to London with her payment.

Four years later, Emilia reappears in Rita’s life with new requests — she wants to reconnect with her family who believe she’s dead, and seeks help pursuing a relationship with a woman named Epifanía. The film is structured as an operatic musical. Shot entirely in France on sets designed to look like Mexico, the film combines elements of melodrama with musical numbers.

Hot Frosty – November 13, Netflix

• Release date: November 13, 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
• Rating: TV-PG
• Director: Jerry Ciccoritti
• Cast: Lacey Chabert, Dustin Milligan, Craig Robinson, Joe Lo Truglio, Katy Mixon, Lauren Holly, Chrishell Stause

Kathy, still grieving her husband who died from cancer, runs a struggling cafe called Kathy’s Kafe in the town of Hope Springs. Her life changes when she puts a scarf on a snowman who magically comes to life as Jack, a handsome man who literally runs cold and therefore rarely wears a shirt. Due to the scarf, Jack imprints on Kathy and immediately declares his love.

While romance blooms between them, local sheriff Nate and his deputy attempt to arrest Jack, believing him to be a “streaker” disrupting the town. The film blends romantic comedy tropes with magical elements, as Kathy struggles with the possibility of loving someone who might literally melt to death.

Black Cab – November 8, Shudder

• Release date: November 8, 2024
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Bruce Goodison
• Cast: Nick Frost, Synnøve Karlsen, Luke Norris, George Bukhari, Tessa Parr

The film begins with a vision of a pregnant ghost in a white nightgown running through misty woods. Anne awakens from this dream and attends a disastrous dinner where her abusive fiancé Patrick announces their engagement despite her having kicked him out. Escaping in a cab driven by Ian, things take a dark turn when Ian recognizes Anne from giving her a ride home from a maternity hospital — revealing her pregnancy to Patrick.

Ian then tasers Patrick, zip-ties him to the door handle, and takes Anne hostage. The story unfolds almost entirely within the cab as Ian drives through dark, foggy roads, revealing disturbing details about his own failed marriage and hinting at sinister intentions. The film incorporates supernatural elements with the recurring appearance of the ghostly woman, building tension through the claustrophobic setting and Frost’s unsettling performance as he oscillates between friendly chattiness and menacing behavior.

Poolman – November 8, Hulu

• Release date: May 10, 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Mystery
• Rating: R
• Director: Chris Pine
• Cast: Chris Pine, Annette Bening, Danny DeVito, DeWanda Wise, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Stephen Tobolowsky, Clancy Brown

An eccentric pool maintenance man lives in a Tiki shack beside a run-down Los Angeles apartment complex. He spends his time writing letters to Erin Brockovich (whose photo he worships), crafting origami, and attending city council meetings where he rants at a corrupt official who’s inexplicably also an Orthodox rabbi.

His life changes when a femme fatale draws him into a conspiracy involving illegal water diversion. The plot involves his attempt to expose government misdeeds with help from his Jungian therapist and a documentary filmmaker who live in the apartment complex. The film aims for an absurdist LA noir comedy style and the dialogue consists largely of unfinished thoughts and whimsical non-sequiturs, creating an intentionally disconnected narrative style.

What was new and worth watching over the last month

Here’s a quick roundup of our previous lists if you missed them. Also, if you’re in the mood for something else this weekend, we have a list of streaming shows to cater to that.

My Old Ass – November 7, Prime Video

• Release date: September 13, 2024
• Genre: Comedy
• Rating: R
• Director: Megan Park
• Cast: Maisy Stella, Aubrey Plaza, Percy Hynes White, Maddie Ziegler, Kerrice Brooks, Maria Dizzia, Alain Goulem

In a picturesque Ontario cranberry farming community, 18-year-old Elliott is counting down the days until she leaves for college in Toronto. During a mushroom-fueled camping trip with her best friends to celebrate her birthday, she has an extraordinary encounter with her 39-year-old self, a somewhat cynical PhD student.

While young Elliott navigates her final summer at home, including a crush on the local barista and complex family dynamics, her older self offers cryptic warnings about someone named Chad. When a suspiciously charming college student starts working at her family’s farm, Elliott must decide whether to follow her heart or heed her future self’s advice.

Meet Me Next Christmas – November 6, Netflix

• Release date: November 6, 2024
• Genre: Comedy, Romance
• Rating: TV-14
• Director: Rusty Cundieff
• Cast: Christina Milian, Devale Ellis, Kofi Siriboe, Kalen Allen, Mitch Grassi, Scott Hoying, Kirstin Maldonado

When a snowstorm strands Layla in an airport lounge, she shares an enchanting connection with a handsome stranger. Before parting ways, they make a pact: if they’re both single next Christmas, they’ll meet at the annual Pentatonix holiday concert.

A year later, freshly heartbroken, Layla is determined to make it to the sold-out show. She enlists the help of a concierge service and is paired with a charming assistant. As they go on a frantic search across the city for tickets, Layla begins to wonder if the perfect Christmas romance might be right in front of her.

Janet Planet – November 1, Max

• Release date: June 28, 2024
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Annie Baker
• Cast: Julianne Nicholson, Zoe Ziegler, Will Patton, Sophie Okonedo, Elias Koteas, Luke Bosco, June Walker Grossman

In the languid summer of 1991, 11-year-old Lacy and her acupuncturist mother Janet live in an idyllic woodland house in rural western Massachusetts. Their close-knit world is gradually disrupted by a series of visitors: Janet’s gruff boyfriend Wayne, an old friend Regina, and a self-styled New Age mystic named Avi.

Through Lacy’s eyes, we witness the subtle complexities of adult relationships while experiencing the droll, uneventful nature of childhood summers.

Music by John Williams – November 1, Disney Plus

• Release date: November 1, 2024
• Genre: Documentary, Biography, Music
• Rating: PG
• Director: Laurent Bouzereau
• Cast: John Williams, Steven Spielberg, J.J. Abrams, Emanuel Ax, Kate Capshaw, Chris Columbus, Gustavo Dudamel

This documentary follows the legendary 92-year-old composer John Williams as he sits at the same piano he’s used since the 1960s, breaking down the creation of cinema’s most memorable scores.

From his early days playing piano for “Peter Gunn” through his groundbreaking collaborations with Steven Spielberg, Williams shares insights into his creative process. Featuring commentary from filmmakers including J.J. Abrams and fellow composers, plus interviews with Spielberg himself, we see how Williams explored traditional orchestral methods.

Look Back – November 7, Prime Video

• Release date: June 28, 2024
• Genre: Animation, Drama
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: Kiyotaka Oshiyama
• Cast: Yuumi Kawai, Mizuki Yoshida, Yoichiro Saito, Kota Oka, Kureha Maki, Takeshi Miyajima, Daisuke Takahashi

In this emotionally resonant anime, middle school student Amuyu Fujino takes pride in creating comics for the school newspaper, until she discovers the remarkable artwork of her reclusive classmate Kyomoto. As the two begin collaborating, their creative partnership evolves into a deep friendship.

The film follows their artistic journey together, exploring the challenges of creative collaboration and personal growth, before taking a dramatic turn that reframes their entire relationship.

Doc of Chucky – November 1, Shudder

• Release date: November 1, 2024
• Genre: Documentary
• Rating: N.A.
• Director: Thommy Hutson
• Cast: Autumn Ivy, Don Mancini, Brad Dourif, Jennifer Tilly, Alex Vincent, Christine Elise, Catherine Hicks

Originally conceived as a dark satire of 1980s toy commercialization, inspired by Cabbage Patch Kids riots and talking dolls like My Buddy, the story of how a possessed doll named Chucky became a horror icon unfolds through intimate interviews. Mind you, this goes on for five hours.

The documentary reveals fascinating behind-the-scenes details, from early casting what-ifs (Jessica Walter was considered for Chucky’s voice) to the intricate animatronics that brought the murderous doll to life.

Trap – October 25, Max

• Release date: August 2, 2024 
• Genre: Crime, Horror, Mystery
• Rating: PG-13
• Director: M. Night Shyamalan
• Cast: Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka, Alison Pill, Hayley Mills, Jonathan Langdon, Mark Bacolcol

When suburban dad Cooper takes his teenage daughter to a pop concert, it seems like a typical father-daughter bonding moment. However, the venue is an elaborate police set up to catch a notorious serial killer believed to be in attendance.

As the police close in and surround the building, Cooper’s behavior becomes increasingly unstable, forcing him to navigate between two very different personas while trapped inside. The film is anchored by Hartnett’s intense performance as a man whose carefully constructed worlds begin to collide during one fateful night.

Don’t Move – October 25, Netflix

• Release date: October 25, 2024 
• Genre: Horror, Thriller
• Rating: R
• Director: Adam Schindler
• Cast: Kelsey Asbille, Finn Wittrock, Daniel Francis, Moray Treadwell, Dylan Beam, Kate Nichols, Skye Little Wing Dimova-Saw

After losing her child in a tragic accident, Iris visits the cliffside where her son died, intending to take her own life. A mysterious stranger appears and seems to talk her down, but his true nature is revealed when he injects her with a paralytic drug. With only 20 minutes before complete paralysis sets in, Iris must fight for survival as her body gradually loses function.

While the drug takes hold, she discovers she’s not the first victim targeted by this calculating predator, leading to a desperate game of survival against both time and her pursuer.

Azrael – October 25, Shudder

• Release date: September 27, 2024 
• Genre: Action, Horror
• Rating: R
• Director: E.L. Katz
• Cast: Samara Weaving, Vic Carmen Sonne, Katariina Unt, Peter Christoffersen, Nathan Stewart-Jarrett, Johhan Rosenberg, Eero Milonoff

In a post-apocalyptic world where the Rapture has occurred, those left behind view speech as a sin and have taken vows of silence. Azrael is captured by a devout female-led community that plans to sacrifice her to ancient creatures lurking in the wilderness.

After escaping imprisonment, she must fight for survival without making a sound, pursued by both religious zealots and pale, blood-drinking monsters. The film unfolds through visual storytelling and primitive communication as Azrael navigates this silent world alongside fellow survivor Kenan.

Daddio – October 26, Netflix

• Release date: September 1, 2023
• Genre: Drama
• Rating: R
• Director: Christy Hall
• Cast: Dakota Johnson, Sean Penn, Marcos A. Gonzalez, Zora Lloyd, Shannon Gannon

A cab ride from JFK airport to Manhattan becomes an intense psychological journey as a programmer and her chatty cab driver engage in an increasingly personal conversation. What begins as mundane small talk evolves into something more substantial when an accident ahead forces them to stop, leading to frank discussions about sex, gender, age, and deeply personal issues.

The two-character drama unfolds entirely within the confines of the taxi, exploring the unexpected connections that can form between strangers.

Despicable Me 4 – October 31, Peacock

• Release date: July 5, 2024 
• Genre: Animation, Adventure, Comedy
• Rating: PG
• Director: Chris Renaud
• Cast: Steve Carell, Kristen Wiig, Will Ferrell, Sofía Vergara, Miranda Cosgrove, Dana Gaier, Madison Polan

Gru and Lucy face new challenges as Anti-Villain League agents while managing their growing family, including a new baby. Their lives become chaotic when Gru’s former villain school rival and his girlfriend break out of prison seeking revenge.

Meanwhile, the Minions discover superpowers, leading to chaos on the streets of what appears to be New York. This fourth installment blends family drama with superhero parody as the Minions attempt to master their newfound abilities.